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Despite again turning down the offer of cash, police still refused to press charges and let the woman off with a caution.

Mrs Clayton said:"I had to go in an ambulance and didn't know anything about it until I woke up in hospital because it knocked me unconscious.

"I had to have CT scans and they were going to stitch it but decided not to because it would leave a scar so just used paper stitches.

"They said it wouldn't go to court because it would be a waste of taxpayers' money.

"I was so offended I told them to stick their money and chose the caution because I wanted her to have a record in case she does this again.

"It is disgusting that you can buy your way out of committing a crime. What is our country coming to?

"I don't blame the officers because they are doing their job and the one we went to the station to speak to about it afterwards was nice.

"He explained that even though she had admitted it in interview, she could change her plea to not guilty and might end up getting away with it.

"But the system is not right, people shouldn't be able to offer money to get out of having a criminal record when they have punched someone unconscious for no reason whatsoever."

Hayley, who works as a team leader at a florist factory, lives in Lincolnshire with site services co-ordinator Mark and their two-year-old daughter Kacey.

And the mum-of-one says she hasn't been able to go to Spalding on her own since the attack because "it isn't safe and the woman who attacked me knows who I am".

Lincolnshire Police have defended their decision not to prosecute the woman.

Inspector Jim Tyner said: "The aim of the adult caution scheme is to offer a proportionate response where the offender has admitted the offence.

"Cautions are designed to deliver swift, simple and effective justice that also carries a deterrent effect for first-time offenders.

"We also record an individual's criminal conduct for possible future reference.

"This is not about taking short-cuts, but cautions are effectively used to increase the amount of time my officers spend dealing with other crime and reduce the amount of time they spend completing paperwork and attending court.

"Like most people, I would much rather my officers are out on patrol.

"Where a victim has suffered financial loss as a result of an assault, they can apply to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority."